New Music From Ambrose Akinmusire, Jesse Daniel Edwards, And More
On an all-new episode of Discologist, Eduardo and Kevin dive into a new jazz classic from Ambrose Akinmusire, the emotional wallop of Jesse Daniel Edwards fourth album, the latest quirky indie rock from Cheekface, and hypnotic desert rock from Yawning Balch. Plus, we discuss all four members of R.E.M.'s surprising cameo at Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s recent performance of Fables Of The Reconstruction at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, killer new music documentaries about Luther Vandross and Sly Sylvester, and more.
Featured Albums
Jesse Daniel Edwards
Jesse Daniel Edwards
Sometimes simplicity is the best way to reveal the truth, and that is certainly the case on Jesse Daniel Edwards’ self-titled fourth album. This collection of ten reworked songs, recorded live to 2-track tape with only piano and his voice, strips away the sophisticated bombast we’ve come to expect from Edwards on albums like Violensia and Clap Trap Venus to reveal the devastating beauty at the core of his songwriting. Songs like “This House Comes with a Ghost” (originally on 2022’s Some Songs EP) and “Nobody’s Got Me” (from 2023’s Violensia) will certainly leave listeners' hearts under the floor. Yet, they are rendered so beautifully here that you’ll hardly notice the moment when pain gives way to real human connection and the joy of knowing that someone out there is feeling the same things and going through the same struggles as us all. — Kevin
Middle Spoon
Cheekface
America's Local Band, Cheekface, are back with more of what makes them great: catchy numbers about the challenges of being alive and overstimulated in this particular juncture of late-stage capitalism. After a rough go, the band is here to tell us that growth sucks (and we know all too well that it does) but their infectious tunes make it all go down smoother. — Eduardo
honey from a winter stone
Ambrose Akinmusire
On his third album in two years, trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire continues to solidify his status as one of the premier jazz musicians of our time, a legend in the making. Following the gorgeous tranquility of 2023’s Beauty Is Enough (48 minutes of solo trumpet!) and the triumph of his collaboration with Bill Frisell and drummer Herlin Riley on last year's Owl Song would be a daunting task for anyone. Akinmusire’s seemingly limitless depth and creativity, however, make honey from a winter stone, featuring Kokayi on improvised vocals, Sam Harris on piano, a string quartet, and more, an album that feels like the perfect next step for one of modern jazz’s brightest stars. With echoes of Miles Davis’s innovation and undertones of Lonnie Holley’s soulful avant-garde, the album offers a compelling entry point into his fantastically diverse catalog. — Kevin
Volume Three
Yawning Balch
Volume 3 of the partnership between Bob Balch and Yawning Man delivers the churning riffage and sludge you’d expect from some of the progenitors of desert rock. That it comes with so many delightful moments for pedal-freaks is also no surprise. Picking up where volumes 1 and 2 left off, this new album sends us deep into the badlands on a vision quest. And what do we find? Carlos Castaneda's Don Juan? Unfortunately, not. But the abundance of tasty riffs ensures that the journey is just as rewarding. — Eduardo
Show Notes
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